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“Sure looks that way” He continued to tower over her, his lu her

“I’uy” She fu to tap out the rhythm to activate it She dropped it into the folds of the pocket lining

“New, eh You should introduce yourself I’a as much as any man can”

“I’ain

“Jess” He leaned down and she shriveled “I introducethem”

In her pocket the device vibrated Curtis unfolded his ar had failed She quickly tried another pattern of taps

“I’d rather get to know you soested Mason would be furious with the way things were going How long before he risked intervening? She hoped he stayed back, trusting her to do the job, because she feared he ht be killed if he attacked Curtis

“I preferso hard the scars on his face deepened into troughs

She sed hard; her throat was dry The vibrations had stopped Again, it hadn’t worked She’d only two more left to try Perhaps the implant was encrypted or had its own blocker She’d no way of knowing

“It doesn’t quite appeal, not yet” She lifted her voice, hoping Mason would hear and know that she was okay Curtis hadn’t touched her, at least not yet “Perhaps I needlips and sed a little The fiery liquid trickled down her throat and she choked—what had he ordered for her?

She blinked a few times The walls briefly warped and the floor bowed The drink was drugged—the bar her eye contact She pushed the glass away “Perhaps not”

Concentrating hard, she focused on the next pattern of taps If she didn’t keep alert, the plan was blown and Mason would be forced to step in to rescue her She thought of Teesha and the other girls, so she was there for them

The grin on his face had spread to his ears “Then let’s go say hello properly”

“Over there?” She pointed at the dark corner

“There?” he laughed, a low vibrating ru you soet There’s this old cell, used by the army when they built this place, and it’s really well equipped I like toys You ” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder